Favorite Merchants who accept BTC | Bitcointalksearch.org

netrin

sr. member

Activity: 322

Merit: 251

FirstBits: 168Bc

It could be a mix of identity providers. Identities can be verified in numerous ways (PGP key, posting a code on this forum, linking a facebook account, whatever plurality). You can integrate existing trust models (but just because I have facebook friended Ted Bundy does not mean I trust him).

Each identity may select those they trust, those they do not, and neutral (good, bad, ~~ugly~~ unknown) as a directed graph (just because I trust you does not imply that you trust me). Ignore all trust calculus linked through an untrusted identity (I don't care who an untrusted identity trusts or doesn't trust). You can play with the numbers, but for example: what I directly trust, I trust 100%. Each single link of trust is weighted 10%, each double indirection, 1%.

If my mom trusts a merchant, then I trust it 10%. If two of my mom's coworkers trust it and one does not, then I trust the merchant 12%.

As long as it's boolean (and neutral) and not qualitative (good products, cheap prices, fast delivery, sexy staff) this model works. There is no such thing as "I trust a merchant more than another", the identity has either delivered or not.

julz

legendary

Activity: 1092

Merit: 1001

Quote from: adamstgBit on November 26, 2011, 02:29:48 AM

Quote from: netrin on November 25, 2011, 08:59:25 AM

I beg you Adam to look into a web-of-trust model, perhaps you should spend the weekend playing with PGP/GPG. Most likely your reviewers and thus their reviews are meaningless unless the pathways of trust can be demonstrated. Why shouldn't every merchant create numerous accounts and review themselves positively? What prevents competitors from reviewing negatively. Are larger merchants more trust worthy than small? Who are these people and why should we care?

very interesting !
ill be looking into it...

right now all i can say is, only one review is allowed per listing (based on ip). For a competitor to do allot of damage he would have to change his ip for every review for that listing..

my site is aimed at non-tech people. and so i don't want to have them need to understand techno-bable to write a review. but i would like to be able to establish trusted reviews.

Nowdays it seems astroturfing is so widespread that dishonest businesses can rent a crowd of online shills from businesses that specialize in helping them 'manage' their PR, so the IP address protection is a start but only a pretty basic protection.
Something like the web-of-trust idea Netrin mentioned does sound like it would be good if you can somehow make it fairly simple.

adamstgBit

legendary

Activity: 1904

Merit: 1037

Trusted Bitcoiner

Quote from: netrin on November 25, 2011, 08:59:25 AM

I beg you Adam to look into a web-of-trust model, perhaps you should spend the weekend playing with PGP/GPG. Most likely your reviewers and thus their reviews are meaningless unless the pathways of trust can be demonstrated. Why shouldn't every merchant create numerous accounts and review themselves positively? What prevents competitors from reviewing negatively. Are larger merchants more trust worthy than small? Who are these people and why should we care?

very interesting !
ill be looking into it...

right now all i can say is, only one review is allowed per listing (based on ip). For a competitor to do allot of damage he would have to change his ip for every review for that listing..

my site is aimed at non-tech people. and so i don't want to have them need to understand techno-bable to write a review. but i would like to be able to establish trusted reviews.

CoinCobb

newbie

Activity: 22

Merit: 0

Thanks nmat, I am going to look at it when I get done with this post.

Anyway it seems like just about everyone here is selling goods for BTC or exchanging them so it leads me to this. I would like to get in on the action just don't know if there would be any demand for it but here it goes. I have a bunch of unused cable that I have leftover from when I built my house. I have a spool of cat5, HDMI 1.3, and if I remember correctly 12g speaker wire that is being unused. I have the crimpers and ends to put on each cable to make custom lenghts suitable to peoples demand. I don't know what they would be worth each. I know the cat5 is dirt cheap. The HDMI was pretty expensive for me but I could probably part with that for around $2-3/ft plus $1 per end. So say the HDMI was 10ft it would be around $22. The speaker wire is high end stuff too and I can't remember what I spent for the 500ft spool but it wasn't cheap. Like I said I don't know what the cat5 and speaker wire would be worth to people but I cant go lower than $2 a foot on the HDMI. Just wondering if you think anyone would be interested

nmat

hero member

Activity: 602

Merit: 502

Quote from: CoinCobb on November 25, 2011, 05:41:03 PM

What exactly is the web of trust thing you speak of netrin? I have never heard of it and sounds as it could be of some use in confirming legitimacy although I didn't think it to be a problem for merchants just peer to peer stuff. How exactly does pgp add to the trust thing, I thought it was just for encrypting information. If it was encrypted how would we be able to read the reviews? I'm really lost now..

See bitcoin-otc for example. Here's the web of trust: http://bitcoin-otc.com/viewratings.php

Each user has its own GPG key and uses it to rate other users on the trades.

CoinCobb

newbie

Activity: 22

Merit: 0

What exactly is the web of trust thing you speak of netrin? I have never heard of it and sounds as it could be of some use in confirming legitimacy although I didn't think it to be a problem for merchants just peer to peer stuff. How exactly does pgp add to the trust thing, I thought it was just for encrypting information. If it was encrypted how would we be able to read the reviews? I'm really lost now..

netrin

sr. member

Activity: 322

Merit: 251

FirstBits: 168Bc

I beg you Adam to look into a web-of-trust model, perhaps you should spend the weekend playing with PGP/GPG. Most likely your reviewers and thus their reviews are meaningless unless the pathways of trust can be demonstrated. Why shouldn't every merchant create numerous accounts and review themselves positively? What prevents competitors from reviewing negatively. Are larger merchants more trust worthy than small? Who are these people and why should we care?

adamstgBit

legendary

Activity: 1904

Merit: 1037

Trusted Bitcoiner

Be sure to look at http://www.thebitcoinreview.com/

it holds over 770 bitcoin sites.

when you buy something from a bitcoin merchant, be sure to write him a review on http://www.thebitcoinreview.com/.

Help us build trust!

netrin

sr. member

Activity: 322

Merit: 251

FirstBits: 168Bc

There are a number of things for which bitcoins are best. For example, hand made crafts from indigenous people, precious metals, illegal items, sponsorship (political) or items for which you may prefer deniability (porn), internet services, micro or frequent payments, and trading in other currencies.

Unfortunately, bitcoins are poorly suited for wishing wells, penny race cars, snorting coke, origami, toilet paper, wall paper, tipping strippers, bookmarks, and camping fuel.

CoinCobb

newbie

Activity: 22

Merit: 0

Yea man I have seen this in another thread. I just got done going through and browsing the different merchants on it. That is perfect for me since I'm still trying to figure where I wanna use the coins I get. There are quite a few prospects there. I only wish more people would have reviewed them before I got to it, you know what I mean? Very useful though I hope more people add reviews so it really provides a scope on where to and not to support. I know I will add my reviews to there when I finally break down and pass my coins along.

BTW thanks for the link!

deslok

sr. member

Activity: 462

Merit: 250

It's all about the game, and how you play it

Quote from: CoinCobb on November 22, 2011, 01:01:22 AM

Well I am kind of new to BTC as I have not made any transactions thus far but have aquired quite some. Anyway I was wondering what everyones favorite merchants are. I really don't know what to do with these things ( no I'm not giving to you) so I'm interested in what you use them for. I'm not much of a saver I like to put a little aside for an investment and spend the rest. Much of what I read about them, we need to be spending them to bring the value up, which is much of economics 101. Anyway let me know whats a good place to spend at.

1. Your favorite Merchant
2. What does the Merchant sell?
3. Do you have alternatives to this merchant?
4. Why this merchant over the alternatives?

1. Your favorite Merchant
Me
2. What does the Merchant sell?
Porn,paper and mining contracts
3. Do you have alternatives to this merchant?
only for the mining contracts
4. Why this merchant over the alternatives?
because you can't get live webcams or printed products direct for bitcoins elsewhere

memvola

hero member

Activity: 938

Merit: 1002

1. BitVapes | CINFU
2. e-cigarettes | VPS
3. Haven't tried any alternatives | Yep
4. Very economical and accepts Bitcoin | Reliable, cheaper than alternatives and accepts Bitcoin

BurtW

legendary

Activity: 2646

Merit: 1137

All paid signature campaigns should be banned.

Check this out: http://www.thebitcoinreview.com

CoinCobb

newbie

Activity: 22

Merit: 0

Well I am sure glad I started this thread, there is some great information. netrin your site is pretty nice although I don't think I have anywhere in my home for your items. Btcintstant looks pretty badass I like it. Being able to spend at just about any retailer makes these coins a lot more useful for me. I bet they can make a killing before bitcoins really take off! I mean if they hit mainstream there is no limit I would think. There aren't enough people excepting coins yet, it seems it's still just you pioneers and I finally joining the wagon.

bbit

legendary

Activity: 1330

Merit: 1000

Bitcoin

Quote from: krypt0n on November 24, 2011, 12:28:43 AM

spendbitcoinds seems pretty cool, I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the link!

check out http://www.btcinstant.com basically, allows you to spend bitcons at any online merchant. Grin

krypt0n

newbie

Activity: 154

Merit: 0

spendbitcoinds seems pretty cool, I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the link!

ThomasV

legendary

Activity: 1896

Merit: 1353

Quote from: nmat on November 23, 2011, 11:39:00 PM

Quote from: ThomasV on November 23, 2011, 11:36:32 PM

Jeremy West : anything at amazon

Link?

http://spendbitcoins.com/

nmat

hero member

Activity: 602

Merit: 502

Quote from: ThomasV on November 23, 2011, 11:36:32 PM

Jeremy West : anything at amazon

Link?

ThomasV

legendary

Activity: 1896

Merit: 1353

my top 3:

Babbletees : tee shirts
Cinfu.com : VPS
Jeremy West (http://spendbitcoins.com/) : anything at amazon

edd

donator

Activity: 1414

Merit: 1002

Like netrin, my favorite bitcoin merchant site is my own, BitBrew. Coffee is a tangible good with an almost universal appeal - just what a new economy needs to grow into a global, revolutionary, benevolent force. Wink

Topic: Favorite Merchants who accept BTC (Read 1848 times)